HERSHEY – Funds raised for Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital during 2007-08 totaled a record-breaking $3,157,469.
The total was announced during the 24th annual CMN “Celebration” broadcast on May 31 and June 1. The broadcast, aired on WGAL-TV8, is the culmination of the fundraising year for Children’s Miracle Network. WGAL-TV8 anchors and reporters hosted the 13-hour telethon from the University Fitness Center at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Throughout the event, viewers were encouraged to pledge $20 a month for 12 months to purchase neuro-intensive monitoring systems for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. As a result of these pledges, CMN will be able to acquire five monitoring systems.
Top corporate donors this year included Giant Food Stores, Citadel Broadcasting Co., Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine employees, the employees of The Hershey Co., Auntie Anne’s Inc. and Rite Aid.
Jennifer Groff, CMN coordinator, credited the generous spirit and dedication of WGAL-TV8 viewers and central Pennsylvanians for the success of the 24th annual broadcast.
“Our broadcast hosts, Children’s Hospital staff and our Miracle families continue to remind viewers that all the money they donate stays right here in their own backyard at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pa.,” said Groff. “You never know when you might need Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital; we are committed to ensuring that the staff at Children’s Hospital has the tools they need to continue providing state-of-the-art care to our children.”
All funds raised from this year’s efforts will be used to support pediatric programs, research, equipment and services at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Children’s Miracle Network is an international, nonprofit organization whose mission is to generate funds and awareness to benefit children in 170 affiliated hospitals in the United States and Canada. At Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, CMN has raised more than $31 million since it began locally in 1984.
